“Prices were strong, bidding was strong and sell-through was strong,” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. “The results, overall, exceeded our expectations, topped by the fact that the media interest in the $1.99 million 1894-S Barber Dime showed that the coin captured the attention of the general public like no other coin, or coin story, has in the last year.”

“This was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to own one of the most famous, mysterious and elusive coins in American numismatics,” said Rohan. “It’s a classic American coin often grouped with the 1804 dollar and the 1913 Liberty nickel as ‘The Big Three’ of U.S. coin rarities.”

In the $11.6+ million NYINC World & Ancient Coins auction, Jan. 3-13, 2016, it was British Commonwealth coins that proved the most popular with collectors, particularly an 1852-dated Type 1 Adelaide Pound from South Australia, which realized $99,875. This British Colony issue was struck without the approval of the English government, so few were minted, making any example truly rare. At AU58, this example is the finest of two certified by PCGS.